WHY PUBS MATTER.
IT’S ABOUT COMMUNITY.
The pub has long been a mainstay of British high streets and communities, however, in recent years the local has adapted to become much more than just that.
There are hundreds of examples of local pubs that have opened as a post office, or greengrocer, or library, and in doing so have transformed the lives of thousands of local residents at a time. Moreover, pubs raise over £100m for hundreds of charities and worthy causes and provide a further £40m in funding or in-kind support for grassroots sport.
All of this is at stake with so many pubs on the brink of failure as a result of months and months of enforced closure or unreasonably tight restrictions.

IT’S ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
For some people, the loss of a local pub isn’t just the loss of a local small business, it means the loss of their social network.
Loneliness is a scourge that blights many communities up and down the country but this too is something that pubs have helped to fix. Countless locals across the UK have started social clubs for isolated or traditionally hard to reach groups of people. The ongoing closure of pubs means that for these groups the pandemic has been especially hard to cope with.

IT’S ABOUT LOCAL ECONOMIES.
The social cohesion that pubs provide for society is absolutely vital, but so too is the economic contribution they make. Pubs and the brewers that supply them provide £23bn in value-added to the UK economy each year, supporting 900,000 jobs – over 40% of which are occupied by people under the age of 25.
This too is at risk if we don’t act now to start enabling publicans to get back to what they do best and begin trading again.
READ WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID IN THEIR OWN WORDS…
TELL US WHY #PUBSMATTER TO YOU
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The BII #HeartoftheCommunity Award
The BII’s ‘Heart of the Community’ Award launched in October 2020 and seeks to recognise all the pubs that have done so much for their community this difficult year. While billed as an ‘award’, it’s not a competition – the aim is to recognise as many pubs as possible through the scheme.
ABOUT PUBS MATTER.
Across the UK, pubs, taprooms, social clubs and hospitality venues are at the centre of their communities. Looking after their regulars, providing services to their communities, raising money for charity and tackling loneliness and social isolation.
WHY THIS MATTERS.
There has never been a more important time to send a clear message to politicians and the media that Pubs Matter.
Pubs need fair treatment and better financial support from the government to get them through the festive period, which would usually be the busiest time of year.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, pubs have faced more restrictions than other businesses. This has reduced trade, left many at risk of closure, and means that people can’t benefit from the social and wellbeing benefits of going to the pub this Christmas.
Publicans have spent thousands making their pubs COVID-secure, improving ventilation, and helping with Test and Trace. But in most parts of the UK people can’t meet in pubs, regardless of what pubs have done to help people socialise safely in small groups.
Get Involved
There are three simple things we want you to do to spread the message that #PubsMatter.
Campaign Pack
We’ve produced a Campaign Pack for any organisation, pub or person that wants to get involved.
It explains what the campaign is about, links to all the ways that you can take action, and contains download links for graphics that you can share online.
From 13-16 December, we want to flood social media and MPs’ inboxes with messages about why Pubs Matter, as we head into a festive season that is very different to normal.
GET INVOLVED.
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Write a message or make a short video and share it with your followers with the hashtag #PubsMatter
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Download social media graphics to use with your post
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Stuck for ideas? Visit the ‘Why Pubs Matter’ page to see other people’s messages and some key facts and figures
2. EMAIL YOUR MP
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Use our online tool to find your MP and insert a personal message about why #PubsMatter
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Ask them to support a proper financial support package for pubs and brewers, and allow people to socialise safely in COVID-secure pubs
3. TWEET THE PM SO HE SEES THE MESSAGE
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You can reach him @BorisJohnson
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If you’re in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, tweet to the First Minister
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Not sure which account to Tweet? Click on the button below and we will match you up with the right account.
CAMPAIGN PACK.
We’ve produced a Campaign Pack for any organisation, pub or person that wants to get involved.
It contains all the information and links on this page in one PDF document.